Group's push for pioneer no stunt

Last week I wrote about William Robison, a black pioneer who settled in Stockton in the mid-1800s and became a long-standing member of the community.

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By Donald W. Blount

recordnet.com

By Donald W. Blount

Posted Mar. 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Donald W. Blount

Posted Mar. 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Last week I wrote about William Robison, a black pioneer who settled in Stockton in the mid-1800s and became a long-standing member of the community.

And I mentioned a bubbling dispute between a national black trade organization and Wells Fargo Bank.

Robison (pronounced row-beh-son) was an expressman who delivered packages, money, etc., while working for several companies, including Wells Fargo, for decades. Driving a stagecoach was among the documented duties Robison performed for Wells Fargo.

He was also a member of the San Joaquin Society of California Pioneers. To be a member of that organization, one had to be in California before Sept. 9, 1850, the date California achieved statehood. The S.J. Society of California Pioneers was apparently a multicultural organization as Roley Early (R.E.) Wilhoit, a prominent Stocktonian of that era, was also a member.

Wilhoit, great-great-grandfather of Douglass Wilhoit, CEO of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, also wrote, at least in part, Robison's obituary.

The comments made about Robison and the positive recognition he received at his services make it apparent that he was well-regarded during his day.

More than a century later, Willie Harris, president of the National Black Stuntmen's Association, wants that public recognition to be more prominently renewed.

Why a stuntmen's group? It seems that Harris, who is based in Las Vegas, came upon this issue while banking. His members support it and they have thrown their collective weight behind it. He wants Wells Fargo to feature Robison in a commercial.

Wells Fargo has repeatedly replied, "No."

"With our advertising, we do not take unsolicited ideas," Julie Campbell, a Wells Fargo spokeswoman, said. Because of copyright and proprietary issues, the company uses only what its marketing team generates. She said the company did explain to Harris "that we do quite a bit to highlight the stagecoach driver."

The company does include information on Harris, George Monroe, also a black stagecoach driver, and other blacks on its website: wellsfargohistory.com.

Among the other things the company does to share these stories are:

» Beginning in the early 1990s, told Robison's story during Black History Month.

» Featured Robison in a San Francisco museum exhibit during the celebration of Wells Fargo's 150th anniversary.

» Included Robison in a corporate history book.

» Highlighted him in a permanent exhibit at a San Francisco museum on how Wells Fargo agents worked.

"It's not that we don't celebrate any key members from our past, but there are so many different things we have done to highlight this gentleman," Campbell said. "We just don't do it a lot in advertising."

I find this information interesting, and it would be nice if Wells Fargo did more to bring it to the public's attention. It would go a long way toward building goodwill, particularly in the minority community, given that it was just last year that Wells Fargo took a big hit, agreeing to a $175 million settlement with the Justice Department for discriminatory lending practices.

Some of Wells Fargo's independent brokers were alleged to have discriminated against black and Latino borrowers, charging them higher fees and rates than white borrowers with the same credit risk during the housing boom of 2004-05.

However, I do not think Wells Fargo has an obligation to do so. It is, after all, a business and can advertise as it elects. I would be more concerned about its hiring, employment and business practices.

But Harris does want the company to do more to highlight its history. If he is successful, then great.

"You have to search like hell to find these guys. Why do they want to shove this in a little corner and not tell the world what these two men did for Wells Fargo?" he said. Putting their story in a larger forum would reach more people.

So Harris intends to up the noise.

He has asked the National Action Network, a 22-year-old civil rights group founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, to get involved. Harris said they have agreed. Someone at the organization's Las Vegas branch said they are familiar with the issue, but I could not get confirmation that they would take this up. Harris also plans a Facebook campaign and additional public outcry.

He certainly does not plan on giving up.

"They (Wells Fargo) are pretty firm in what they are going to do; we are pretty firm in what we are going to do," he said. "Me and my stunt group are not going to back down."

Contact Donald W. Blount at (209) 546-8251 or dblount@recordnet.com. The Record senior editors' blog is available at recordnet.com/editorblog.